Foldable container and blank therefor



May 2, 1967 H. c. HARRISON ETAL 3,317,118

FOLDABLE CONTAINER AND BLANK THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 17,1965 INVENTORS HENRY C. HARRISON HENRY HARRISON MJ W I ATTORNEYS y 1967i H. c. HARRISON ETAL 3,317,118

FOLDABLE CONTAINER AND BLANK THEREFOR Filed May l 7, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTORS' \260 HENRY C.HARRISON United States Patent 3,317,118FOLDABLE CONTAINER AND BLANK THEREFOR Henry C. Harrison, 94 BayviewAve., Port Washington, N.Y. 11050, and Henry Harrison, 18 Frost CreekDrive, Locust Valley, N.Y. 11560 Filed May 17, 1965, Ser. No. 456,109Claims. (Cl. 229-61) This application is a continuation-impart ofapplication Ser. No. 174,360, filed Feb. 14, 1962, now Patent No.3,216,644, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.32,022 filed May 26, 1960, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to collapsible receptacles fabricated fromgenerally rectangular sheets of thin flexible material such as paper orfoil. a

The receptacles of the invention are particularly well suited to befabricated on known automatic bag or box making machinery fromcontinuous strips of thin flexible material.

Although the receptacles of the type herein disclosed have beendiscussed in the above-mentioned parent applications as beingparticularly advantageously usable as single-use, disposablerefuse-receiving receptacles, it must be appreciated that such a use isillustrative rather than limitative. 7

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providereceptacles of the type described which are foldable from generallyrectangular blanks to form selfsupporting structures.

Further objects of thepresent invention are: (a) to provide a receptaclewhich will stand up, hold itself open, and withstand reasonable abuse inorder to serve as a convenient container for refuse and the like; (b) toprovide a disposable receptacle with a sloping bottom wall; (c) toprovide a disposable receptacle which'is easily closed for disposalafter filling, without unnecessary contact with the material within thereceptacle; ((1) to provide a disposable receptacle of the typedescribed of material which is not so porous that it leaks (e) toprovide a disposable receptacle which will fold flat and set up easily;(f) to provide a disposable receptacle which in fabrication requires aminimum amount of material of low unit cost, and which is suitable formachine fabrication; (g) to provide such a disposable receptacle whichcan be manufactured with existing techniques and machinery employed inthe packaging industry; and. (h) to provide a novel receptacleconstruction having inclined bottom walls and/ or top walls and havingsidewalls of differing geometrical transverse cross-section.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide areceptacle incorporating reinforcing means provided on the sheet ofmaterial from which the receptacle is made prior to the time that suchsheet of material is folded to form the final structure.

The invention also encompasses the provision of a foldable receptaclecomprising a substantially rectangular blank folded back on itself alongthree transversely directed generally parallel lines into twosubstantially rectangular bottom panels and two substantiallyrectangular side panels, there being means forming a seal along twoopposing sides of the blank perpendicular to said parallel lines andjoining all of the mentioned panels together and additional meansjoining each of the bottom panels to its adjacent side panel along acurved or straight line or a plurality of interconnected straightand/ orcurved lines to define the peripheral contour of the bottom of thereceptacle as well as the transverse cross-sectional shape of thereceptacle when the receptacle is in its free standing, expandedcondition.

These and further objects of the present invention will become moreclearly apparent during the following de- 3,317,118 Patented May 2, 1967ICE.

tailed discussion relating to the four illustrative embodiments of theinvention shown in the attached drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a first receptacle blank according to thepresent invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a receptacle folded from the blank ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of a second receptacle blank according tothe present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a receptacle folded from the blank ofFIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of a third receptacle blank according to thepresent invention;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective View of a receptacle folded from the blank ofFIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of a blank foldable to form a completelyclosed receptacle; and

FIGURE 8 is a receptacle folded from the blank of FIGURE 7.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2, a generally rectangular containerblank 130 is shown divided by a cen tral longitudinally extending foldline 132 parallel to the edges of the blank. Fold lines 134 and 136 aretransversely spaced from the fold line 132 on opposite sides thereof,being substantially parallel to the fold line 132. These latter lines134 and 136 define the bottom side corners of the assembled container.Disposed inwardly of the ends of the blank 130 are parallel transverselyextending fol-d lines 138 and 140 which divide the container blank 130into squares at each sidein conjunction with the parallel fold lines132, 134 and 136.

These squares are bisected by diagonal fold lines 142, 144 whichintersect one another at one side of the blank and intersect the foldline 132 terminating at the opposite diagonal corners thereof.

Similarly, the opposite squares are bisected with fold lines 146 and 148which likewise intersect one another at the opposite end of the foldline 132. A symmetrically opposed adhesive joint line 150 intersects theinner extremity of the diagonal fold line 142, while similar joint lines152, 154 and 156 intersect the respective extreme ends of the fold lines144, 146 and 148.

Flap edges 158, 160, 1-62 and 164 extend longitudinally alternativelyfrom the ends of the portionsof the blank defined by the parallel scorelines 134, 132 and 136 respectively, for reasons to become apparent.

In its assembled condition in FIGURE 2, the fold line 132 traverses thecentral bottom wall of the blank, the bottom wall terminating at itsside extremities with fold lines 134 and 136. The side walls aremaintained by folding the adjacent squares over one another and joininglines 150 and 142, 144 and 152, 146 and 154 and 148 and 156. The sidewalls are conveniently maintained in their upright position by gluingthe extending flaps 158, 160, 162 and 164 to the respective end surfacesof the walls. Conveniently slits (not shown) may be formed through theblank adjacent the score lines 134 and 136 if the container is to beutilized for handling refuse and allowing liquid to drain therefrom.Suitable slits (not shown) may also be formed adjacent the fold lines134 and 136; and wires (not shown) may be carried at the top of thewalls to stiffen the container walls and hold the container in anexpanded, free standing condition. The container shown in FIGURE 2 canbe folded to a flattened condition for storage prior to use by pushingthe bottom central fold line 132 thereof upwardly and the end wallsthereof outwardly centrally so that the end walls bend along the lines142, 144, 146 and 148 (FIGURE 1) and the bends along fol-d lines 138 andflatten until the top edges of the side walls lie adjacent one another.Alternately the container can be folded by pushing the end walls thereofinwardly centrally thereof so that the end 3 walls bend along the lines142, 144, 146 and 148 tFIG- URE 1) until the top edges of the side wallslie ad acent one another. The container can be further collapsed byfolding it over upon itself along the line 132. Expanding the containerinvolves a reversal of the procedures ust described.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 3 and 4 whlch provide a one-piecegenerally rectangular blank for fabricating a generally cylindricalcontainer having a bottom wall having halves of symmetrically opposedcurvature. In FIGURE 3, the blank 170 is shown having a generallyrectangular configuration. Its folds include a central transverse foldline 172 and parallel fold lines 174 and 176 extending on either side ofline 172. A tab 178 extends from one end of the rectangular blank 178and alternating flaps 188, 182, 184 and 186 extend from alternate sidesof the container or between the score lines 174, 172 and 176 similar tothe arrangement in FIGURE 1 for carrying adhesive to join the side wallstogether. Extending from the imaginary longitudinal center line of theblank 170 and the intersection of the fold line 174 are oppositelyextending arcuate fold lines 188 and 190 which are concave toward thefold line 172 and terminate in the intersection with fold line 172 atthe lateral sides of the blank 170. Similarly, arcuate fold lines 192and 194 extend from the center of the fold line 176 to the sides of theblank 170, intersecting the fold line 172. From the points of tangencyof the arcuate fold lines 188 and 192 with the straight fold lines 174and 176, symmetrically opposed arcuate adhesive joint lines 196 and 280extend to the edges of the blank 170. The fold lines 188 and 1'92 arenot circular arcs but have the shape of sine curves over the interval ofzero to 180 degrees. The length of the central fold line 172 between theends of the receptacle is pi times the spacing of the line 172 from eachof the fold lines 174 and 176, so that the bottom of the containerfolded from the blank 178 has a bottom which is generally concaveupwardly.

In FIGURE 4, this container blank 178 is shown in the upright, assembledposition wherein the lines 188 and 196, 190 and 198 and 192, 200 and194, 202 are joined to one another. The two opposed side walls extendingoutwardly of the fold lines 174 and 176 are shown cylindrically curvedso that the container rests on the fold lines 188, and 176. Other thansine curvature of the lines 188, 190, 192, 194 would result in acontainer of elliptical or similar cross-section. The flaps 1811, 182,184 and 186 are joined to the adjacent side wall portions as shown. Byvirtue of this arrangement, the bottom wall of the container bounded bythe arcuate fold lines 188, 190, 192, 194 is generally curved, slopingdownwardly from opposed ends adjacent the ends of the line 172 to thelower-most central region which lies transversely of the midpoint of theline 172.

The container shown in FIGURE 3 can be completely collapsed for storageprior to use by flattening the two side wall portions extendingrespectively from the lines 174 and 176 whereupon the bottom of thecontainer folds inwardly and upwardly about the line 172. Expanding thecontainer involves a reversal of the procedure just described.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 5 and 6 which show a container blank210 adapted to be folded so as to provide a completely closed containerwherein both end walls have a generally gabled configuration as viewedin elevation. The blank 210 is of generally rectangular configuration,having opposed side edges 212 and 214 and opposed end edges 216 and 218.A longitudinal fold line 220 extends along the longitudinal center lineof the blank 210 between the opposite ends 216, 218. The central portionof the blank is defined by two transversely extending parallel foldlines 222 and 224, the area of the blank between these lines definingtwo adjacent side walls of the completed container construction. Spacedparallel to and outwardly of these latter fold lines toward the ends ofthe blank are fold lines 226 and 228. The area 218 are joined of theblank between the fold line 226 and the end edge 216 and the area of theblank between the fold line 228 and the end edge 218 together form theremaining two adjacent side walls of the container with respect to theside wall area between the fold lines 222 and 224.

The area of the blank 210 between the fold lines 222 and 226 includesone end wall of the assembled container, while the area between the foldlines 224 and 228 defines the opposite end wall. Each of these end wallswhen the container is assembled has a gable-like configuration inelevation wherein the fold lines 220 in this region constitutes theextremity or apex of each end wall. Thus, diagonal fold lines 230 and232 extend from the intersection of the fold lines 220 and 226terminating at their opposite extremities with a fold line 234. In alike manner, diagonal fold lines 236 and 238 extend from theintersection of the fold lines 222 and 220, and intersect thefirst-mentioned diagonal fold lines at their opposite extremities. Aswith the other embodiments of this invention, the end wall portionadjacent fold line 226 has opposed diagonal adhesive joint lines 240 and242 adapted to engage the fold lines 230 and 232, respectively when thecontainer is assembled. The two side walls bounded by the fold lines 222and 224 likewise carry similar glue lines 244 and 246 for engagementwith the respective diagonal fold lines 236 and 238. The remainder ofthe container blank 210 is formed of identical fold lines and jointlines, similar to elements being referred to by like prime numerals.

Parallel hem lines 248 and 250 are positioned inwardly of the side edges212 and 214, respectively for carrying adhesive, staples or the like tojoin the respective edges together. Adjacent the side edge 212 areV-slots 252 and 252', one between each panel of the end wall; andprotruding piv-otable tongues 254 and 254' extending outwardly beyondthe opposite side edge 214 but are folded in the intermediate seam areaoutwardly of the fold line 250. In assembly, as shown in FIGURE 18, thefollowing lines are joined to one another; 230 and 240, 232 and 242, 236and 244, 238 and 246. The joints form a generally V-shaped end wall ofwhich the line 226 between the fold lines 222 and 226 forms the apex-endof the container. The opposite end of the container is formed inidentical fashion, and the end edges 216 and to one another by adhesiveso as to be positioned opposite to the two side walls bounded by thefold lines 222, 224 and 216.

The container shown in FIGURE 6 may be filled with material before thefinal joint is made between 216 and 217 or by other convenient meanssuch as an incorporation of a filling nozzle or the like in the sheetmaterial of the blank 210. The material can be removed from thecontainer by convenient means such as tearing the container, cutting offa corner thereof or puncturing the container. The last-mentioned meansis preferred where the material to be contained is relatively fluid suchas a liquid or a granulated solid. So used, the container of FIGURE 6may be advantageously employed as a disposable salt shaker, milk cartonor the like. Alternatively the doublegable ended container of FIGURE 6could be fabricated in an empty condition for use as a Christmas treeornament with appropriate printing on the exterior thereof and forsimilar decorative and display purposes. It is worthy of notation thatthe container of FIGURE 6 can be folded completely flat by pushing inthe gables centrally thereof so that the ends fold about the lines 234thereof and the side walls on either side of the line 220 are coplanar.

The container blank of FIGURE 5 can be modified so as to produce acontainer havin a diamond shaped rather than square transversecross-sectional shape by making the fold lines 222 and 226 and the foldlines 224 and 228 somewhat closer to the respective lines 234.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 7 and 8 which show a container blankfoldable into a container of hexagonal transverse cross-sectionalconfiguration and having rectangular side walls the blank beingdesignated by the numeral 260. The blank 260 is of generally rectangularconfiguration being longitudinally divided into three equal areas bytransversely extending longitudinally spaced parallel fold lines 262 and264. The blank 260 is divided in half longitudinally by a transversefold line 266 and fold lines 268 and 270 are disposed in equidistant,parallel and opposed relationship with respect to the fold line 266. Thecentral portion of the blank 260 between the lanes 268 and 270 isthereby divided into a plurality of squares. Diagonal fold lines 272,274, 276 and 278 bisect the four laterally outermost squares, the lines272 and 276 intersecting one another along one end of the'line 266 whilethe opposite fold lines 274 and 278 intersect a fold line 266 at theother side of the blank.

The side walls outwardly of the fold lines 268 and 270 carrycooperatively disposed adhesive joint lines 280, 282, 284 and 286. Theselatter joint lines intersect and are adapted to engage the diagonal foldlines 272, 274, 276 and 278 respectively. As with other embodiments ofthe invention, transversely extending hems 288 and 290 extend beyondlongitudinal seam lines 292 and 294 respectively for receivingstiffening wire prior to securement of the blank to the designatedportions of itself to .form the container.

The blank in FIGURE 7 is shown in FIGURE 8 in its assembled positionwherein the container bottom is fiat in the rectangular area defined bythe fold lines 268, 270 and 262, 264. The opposed triangular portionsbound by the lines 272, 276 and 274, 278 extend upwardly theirrespective opposed apices constituting the uppermost portions of thebottom wall. The respective joint lines are joined to the fold lines, asis apparent. The six identical wall portions outwardly of each fold line268 and 270 complete the side walls of the containers so that the sameis of a hexagonal configuration. It should be apparent that the numberof container sides could be increased employing the principles just setforth to form eight sided containers and the like.

It should be reiterated in summary that each of the modifications shownare foldable from a generally rectangular blank so that wastage ofmaterial is minimized and the containers may be continuously made bysevering blanks from continuous strips of thin flexible sheet materialusing conventional cutting, scoring, bending and gluing apparatus. 7 I

Accordingly the present invention should be understood to include allsuch modifications as can be employed without departing from theinventions principles as set forth herein and which are includablewithin the spirit and scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A generally rectangular blank of flexible sheet material foldable toform a container, said blank comprising: means defining a first foldline extending laterally of said blank substantially at the imaginarytransverse center line thereof; means defining a pair of second foldlines in said blank extending generally parallel to, equidistant fromand on either side of said first fold line; means defining four arcuatefold lines arranged in a substantially closed figure and each beingconcave toward the juncture of the imaginary longitudinal center line ofthe blank and the imaginary transverse center line of the blank, eacharcuate fold line extending substantially between a juncture of saidfirst fold line and a lateral edge of said blank, and a juncture of oneof said second fold lines with the imaginary longitudinal center line ofsaid blank, means for securing the portion of each lateral edge of theblank defined between one of said second fold lines and the adjacent endof the blank and the complementary edge portion defined between theother of said second fold lines and the end of the blank adjacentthereto; and means for securing each approximately triangular blankportion defined between a second fold line, an arcuate fold line and ablank edge to a congruent approximately triangular portion of said blankhaving symmetry with the first mentioned approximately triangularportion about the second fold line which defines an edge thereof.

2. A container folded from the blank of claim 1 wherein the second andarcuate fold lines are in a folded condition only when the container isin an expanded condition and wherein the first fold line is in a foldedcondition only when the container is in a collapsed condition. I

3. A container as set forth in claim 2 wherein said arcuate fold linesare portions of sine wires and the container is of constant generallycircular transverse crosssection throughout its length when expanded.

4. A container as set forth in claim 2 wherein the container is ofconstant, generally closed curved cross-section throughout its length.

5. A generally rectangular blank of flexible sheet material foldable toform a container, said blank comprising means defining a first fold lineextending along one imaginary center line of said blank; means defininga second fold line intermediate the ends of the blank, said second foldline extending generally perpendicularly to said first fold line andbetween two opposing edges of the blank; means defining a pair of thirdfold lines in said blank extending generally parallel to, equidistantfrom and on either side of said second fold line; means defining fourdiagonal fold lines arranged in a substantially closed figure, eachdiagonal fold line extending substantially between a juncture of one ofsaid third fold lines and said first fold line and a juncture of saidsecond fold line with one of said blank opposing edges; means forsecuring the portion of each lateral edge of the blank defining betweenone of said third fold lines and the adjacent end of the blank and thecomplementary edge portion of the blank defined extending from the otherof said third fold lines toward the opposite end of said blank; andmeans for securing each substantially triangular blank portion definedbetween a third fold line, a diagonal fold line and a blank edge to acongruent substantially triangular portion of said blank having symmetrywith said first mentioned substantially triangular portion about thethird fold line which defines an edge thereof.

6. A container folded from the blank of claim 5 wherein the first, thirdand diagonal fold lines are in a folded condition when the container isin an expanded condition and the second fold line is folded only whenthe container is in a collapsed condition.

7. A generally rectangular blank of flexible sheet material foldable toform a closed container, said blank comprising: means defining a firstfold line in the blank extending between the ends thereof substantiallyalong the imaginary longitudinal center line of the blank, meansdefining a pair of second fold lines in the blank extending laterallythereof, generally perpendicularly of said first fold line and betweenthe lateral edges of said blank, the two second fold lines beingpositioned nearer opposite ends of said blank each of said second foldlines being positioned substantially midway between an end of said blankand the imaginary transverse center line of the blank; means definingtwo pairs of third fold lines, each pair of third fold lines extendinggenerally parallel to, equidistant from and on either side of a secondfold line; means defining eight diagonal fold lines, arranged in groupsof four in substantially closed figures about the two second fold lines,each diagonal fold line extending substantially between a juncture ofsaid first fold line and one of said third fold lines and a juncture ofone of said second fold lines and an edge of the blank; and.

means for securing the blank edge portions defined between the thirdfold line of each pair of third fold lines which is more nearly adjacentthe blank ends and the adjacent blank end to the complementary blankedge portions defined between the third fold line of each pair of thirdfold lines which is more nearly adjacent the blank imaginary transversecenter line and the imaginary transverse center line of the blank.

8. A closed container folded from the blank of claim 7 wherein thefirst, third and diagonal fold lines are in an expanded condition andthe second fold lines are in a folded condition only when the containeris in a collapsed condition.

9. A generally rectangular blank of flexible sheet material foldable toform a closed container as set forth in claim 7 further comprising meansfor securing each of the eight substantially triangular blank portionsdefined between a third fold line, a diagonal fold line and a blank edgeto congruent substantially triangular portions of said blank each havingsymmetry with the blank portion of said eight portions to which it isadapted to be secured about the third fold line which defines an edgethereof.

10. A closed container folded from the blank of claim 9 wherein thefirst, third and diagonal fold lines are in a folded condition when thecontainer is in an expanded condition and the second fold lines are in afolded condition only when the container is in a collapsed condition.

References Cited by the Examiner GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

1. A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR BLANK OF FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL FOLDABLE TOFORM A CONTAINER, SAID BLANK COMPRISING: MEANS DEFINING A FIRST FOLDLINE EXTENDING LATERALLY OF SAID BLANK SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE IMAGINARYTRANSVERSE CENTER LINE THEREOF; MEANS DEFINING A PAIR OF SECOND FOLDLINES IN SAID BLANK EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO, EQUIDISTANT FROMAND ON EITHER SIDE OF SAID FIRST FOLD LINE; MEANS DEFINING FOUR ARCUATEFOLD LINES ARRANGED IN A SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSED FIGURE AND EACH BEINGCONCAVE TOWARD THE JUNCTURE OF THE IMAGINARY LONGITUDINAL CENTER LINE OFTHE BLANK AND THE IMAGINARY TRANSVERSE CENTER LINE OF THE BLANK, EACHARCUATE FOLD LINE EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY BETWEEN A JUNCTURE OF SAIDFIRST FOLD LINE AND A LATERAL EDGE OF SAID BLANK, AND A JUNCTURE OF ONEOF SAID SECOND FOLD LINES WITH THE IMAGINARY LONGITUDINAL CENTER LINE OFSAID BLANK, MEANS FOR SECURING THE PORTION OF EACH LATERAL EDGE OF THEBLANK DEFINED BETWEEN ONE OF SAID SECOND FOLD LINES AND THE ADJACENT ENDOF THE BLANK AND THE COMPLEMENTARY EDGE PORTION DEFINED BETWEEN THEOTHER OF SAID SECOND FOLD LINES AND THE END OF THE BLANK ADJACENTTHERETO; AND MEANS FOR SECURING EACH APPROXIMATELY TRIANGULAR BLANKPORTION DEFINED BETWEEN A SECOND FOLD LINE, AN ARCUATE FOLD LINE AND ABLANK EDGE TO A CONGRUENT APPROXIMATELY TRIANGULAR PORTION OF SAID BLANKHAVING SYMMETRY WITH THE FIRST MENTIONED APPROXIMATELY TRIANGULARPORTION ABOUT THE SECOND FOLD LINE WHICH DEFINES AN EDGE THEREOF.